Toledo Speedway

FLAT ROCK, MI: (7-4-09): Jeff Maran took advantage of a blocked track at lap 209 after a sensational battle with Dave Arnold Jr. for over 100 laps and sped to victory and the $1000 payday in Saturday night's 250 lap Enduro race at Flat Rock Speedway. Eric Hoffman captured the MCR Dwarf Car feature, Brad Turner took the ARCA 4 Cylinder main and Steve Matusiewicz won the Figure 8 Boat race as the track celebrated the 4th of July holiday.

With at least 25 lead changes in the non-stop 250 lap event, Maran came out on top in the exciting race.  Michael Dailey led the first 2 laps, with Maran taking charge on lap 3.  Danny Bennett took his turn leading by grabbing the lead from Jeff at lap 32.  That pair traded the lead back and forth for the next 38 laps.  Dave Arnold Jr. joined the the leaders by the lap 100 mark and the great battle was on!  Maran and Arnold Jr. put on a dazzling display, dipping in and out of lapped traffic, which at times was a pack of 6-10 cars.  Jeff would lead, Arnold would go by, and the duo would repeat their moves lap after lap.  At lap 209, the pair encountered the spinning cars of Tim Dowd and Matt Ringger, which sat right in the middle of turn 3.  Maran just slipped through the melee while Arnold Jr. got on the binders to miss the incident, giving Jeff the chance to build up a ½ lap lead.  He held on for the win over a fast-closing Arnold Jr., Danny Bennett, Rick Johnson, Dailey, Jeff Rohde, Derrick Sheppard, Tom Sprotberry, Troy Brehmer and Bob Hochradel.  23 of the 32 car starting field finished the race, with the top 2 cars on the lead lap.

Eric Hoffman zipped into the lead at lap 10 on his way to victory in the 25 lap MCR Dwarf Car feature race.  Jeff Slayton took the lead at the green, giving way to Jon Wylie on lap 8.  His lead, however, was short-lived as Hoffman took command just 2 laps later.  The yellow came out on lap 14 when fast qualifier Curtis Craig (12:613) had his engine quit in turn 4.  On the restart, Hoffman pulled away on the way to the checkered flag.  Wylie came home second, Landon Hidy third, Brad Wyatt fourth and Stephen Bobek fifth, followed by Nick Shanks, Mike McManman Jr., Jim Miller, Jerry Olson and Troy Hoffman.  Kevin Ayers, Joe McManman and Hidy took the heat races for the 24 car field, with Dave Wylie capturing the last-chance race.

3 drivers took turns leading the 20 lap ARCA 4 Cylinder feature, with a good 4 car battle early on setting the stage for Brad Turner's run to the front.  Tim Musick took charge on the green flag, leading the first 2 circuits until Michael Marlow ran to the front.  Marlow was strong and quick on the bottom lane as Matt Brazeau, Ray McClure and Turner narrowed the gap and ran side by side, back and forth.  Turner finally broke loose from the pack, went to the high side and took control on lap 14 on his way to the win over Michael Marlow, Brazeau, McClure, Perry Marlow, Musick and Tony Thomas.  Turner's fast time was 15:051, with McClure grabbing the heat race win.

The very first Boat Figure 8 race was interesting as 2 cars lost their boats and trailers on the first lap!  Joe Whisman and Anthony Terris got sideways, Lonnie York lost his boat and Bill Carberry took the lead, followed by rookie Steve Matusiewicz.  Carberry had his trailer break apart and slide under the back side of the boat and Steve motored by for the lead.  On the next turn, Carberry lost his trailer, ending the event and making Matusiewicz the winner!

Saturday, July 11 Flat Rock Speedway presents the Miller Lite Triple 50's and the famous Flat Rock Speedway Fireworks show!  And, all kids to age 14 will be admitted FREE!  The ARCA Late Models, Figure 8's and Street Stocks will compete in 50 lap features, with a 25 lap Street Stock B Main also on tap.  The gates open at 4 and racing begins at 7 p.m. For the 28^th consecutive year, the famous Volcano Fireworks display will light up the sky!  ALL tickets are general admission and will go on sale at 4 p.m. race day.